Smoker&#39;s appliance



Oct. 3, 1944. A} ROBB 2,359,529

SMOKERS APPLIANCE Filed April 19, 1943 'IIIIIIIIIJ'IIIA I/i gvwwvbo b ANDREW R055 Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,359,529 SMOKERS APPLIANCE Andrew Robb, New Britain, Conn. Application April 19, 1943, Serial No. 483,625

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an appliance for smokers, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide an appliance wherein a cigarette may be readily severed when it is desired to indulge in a short smoke and wherein the unused portion of the cigarette may be readily retained for later use.

The invention also has for an object to provide an appliance of this kind so constructed as to be conveniently carried in a pocket or handbag or placed in any other convenient location whereby the device is equally adapted for use by both sexes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including means whereby the point of severance of the cigarette may be readily regulated or adjusted within certain limits.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my appliance for smokers whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a smokers appliance constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the device as herein embodied and on approximately a quarter turn with respect to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar toFigure 4 but showing the cutting blade in an open position.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the cutting blade unapplied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, my improved appliance comprises an elongated tubular member I, open at both ends, and made of any material desired. This member I has its bore 2 of a diameter to snugly receive an end portion of a cigarette, and threading, as at 3, within one end portion of the member I is an elongated plug 4, the inner face 5 of which is fiat, and substantially at right angles to the axis of the plug 4.

This mounting of the plug 4 allows the position of the face 5 of the plug 4 to be selectively adjusted within certain limits lengthwise within the member I .as the user may desire and particularly to determine the length of the portion of the cigarette .to be cut off as well, of course, as the length of the cigarette to be retained.

The extremity of the member I remote from the plug 4 and at a point in close proximity to said second end of the member I is provided therearound with .a ci-rcumferentially disposed slot 6 through which snugly passes a cutting blade I, said blade, when at its limit inwardly of the member I, having its cutting edge 8 closely conforming to the portion of the inner face of the member I with which it contacts.

This blade I is flat and is provided at one extremity with an outstanding ear 9 which extends between the lugs I0 disposed outwardly and radially from the member I above and below the slot 6. This ear 9 is pivotally held between the lugs In by a pin I I and coacting with the ear 9 and the member I is a coiled spring I2 which operates to constantly urge the blade I at the limit of its movement inwardly of the member I.

The ear 9 is formed to provide a shoulder I4 which, in the present embodiment of the invention, contacts with the outer face of the wall of the member I to limit the outward swinging movement of the blade 'I with respect to the member I and at a point when said blade I has just substantially entirely passed out from within the member I. The end portion of the blade 1 remote from the ear 9 is provided with an angularly disposed spring arm I5 which engages over a suitably positioned outstanding knob l6 carried by the member I, whereby further means are provided to hold the blade 1 in its fully closed position.

The outer margin of the blade 1 is defined by a flange I! which has close contact with the periphery of the member I when the blade 1'is fully closed, concealing the slot 6 to preventadmission of foreign matter within the member I when not in use. It is believed to be obvious that when the blade I is at the limit of its movement inwardly of the member I, it serves as a closure means for said end portion of the member I.

The purpose of the present appliance is to sever a cigarette at a desired point midway its ends, whereby a smoker may use a portion of an original cigarette for a short smoke and retain the remaining portion for a later smoke. It is a constant practice for smokers of cigarettes to hurriedly take a few puffs of a cigarett and then throw the same away with, of course, resultant loss to the smoker. The present invention very readily and conveniently eliminates loss of cigarettes to a considerable degree.

It is also to be stated that the appliance is of small dimensions, as the member I need only be of a length slightly in excess of one-half the length of the average length of a cigarette.

It is also believed to be obvious that after a cigarette has been severed, the portion of the cigarette within the member I can be readily retained therein until its use is desired.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an appliance for smokers constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed, is:

1. A smokers appliance comprising a tub open at one end and of constant interior diameter throughout, the tube being designed to receive an end portion of a cigarette, a' circumferential slot formed adjacent the open end through substantially half the circumference of the tube, a pair of spaced apertured ears upon the outer side of the tube between which the slot opens, said ears being adjacent one end of the slot, a disc member having substantially half the extent of its periphery of smaller diameter than the other 0 half and adapted to enter the tube through said slot whereby the portion of reduced diameter fits against the inside wall of the tube, the peripheral portion of the disc which is of reatest diameter filling and closing the slot, the smaller diameter peripheral portion of the disc bein sharpened to form a cutting blade, a hinge ear forming an integral continuation of the disc at an end of the peripheral portion of greatest diameter disposed between and pivotally connected with the first mentioned ears whereby the disc may be moved into and out of the tube, and means for securing the disc against movement when it is in closing position across the tube.

2. A smokers appliance as set forth in claim 1 in which the tube is open at its other end and interiorly threaded adjacent the said other open end, and a plug member threaded into the open end and having a substantial length for longitudinal adjustment in the tube, the plug mem- 20 ber having an unthreaded outer end portion to be grasped between the fingers to facilitate rotating the plug.

3. A smokers appliance as set forth in claim 1 with a guard flange extending across the periph- 25 eral edge of the disc of greatest diameter and throughout the major extent of said edg for engagement against the outer side of the tube when the disc is in closing position across the tube to close said slot.

ANDREW ROBB. 

